Suing Over Iron Bridge Hasn't Worked

Orlando's tough approach to force suburban customers of the Iron Bridge regional sewage treatment plant to agree to split up to $12 million in repair bills at the faulty plant has not been successful.

Three of the four local governments -- Winter Park, Maitland and Casselberry -- debated the matter this week with none of them signing the agreement Orlando wants. The three, along with Seminole County, were sued by Orlando last week after they failed to meet a deadline to sign the agreement.

Casselberry's city council Monday night authorized its attorney to prepare a countersuit against not only Orlando, but anyone else who might be responsible for the flawed performance of Iron Bridge. The council took the action so it would have time to consider actually filing a suit before the 20- day period to respond to Orlando's suit ends.

Maitland, on the other hand, decided Monday to request dismissal from Orlando's suit on the grounds that approval of a contract between the two cities should not be part of a federal lawsuit against Orlando.

Winter Park still hasn't made up its mind about the agreement, while Seminole County is poised to approve it in return for Orlando's signing a 2- year-old agreement on sharing an increase in treatment capacity that could be available early this summer.